*Update: Going forward, I’m moderating all comments because we’re not debating the issue of gay marriage here. We’re discussing the issue of people from BOTH SIDES being respectful and not super self-righteous about everyone having to share their specific viewpoint.
So the world almost exploded the other day when Chick-fil-A commented on their stance in the whole same sex marriage thing.
Now, people are threatening to boycott and paragons of integrity like Rahm Emanuel are trying to keep Chick-fil-A from expanding their business in Chicago. Good stuff, there. That Rahm Emanuel is playing the white knight in CHICAGO, maybe the most corrupt place in the history of the space/time continuum, is SO VERY VERY RICH. To spread the love to both sides of the aisle, that’s like Mark Sanford being upset that Don Draper cheated on Betty Draper in the pilot episode of Mad Men. OMG POLITICIANS ARE JUST THE BEST.
First, let me say this: I’m SO sick and tired of this being such a touchy issue. Both sides are too mouthy and sensitive and everyone needs to focus on more important things like, um I don’t know, orphans and human beings on one side of the planet starving while I stare at a pantry full of food and whine that “there’s nothing to eat.”
Moreover, was what Dan Cathy said hateful? Did he slur anything? I’m asking. I’m seriously asking. What I read was him reiterating the stance of his family and his company, which last time I checked, was something he was allowed to do and something that wasn’t entirely unreasonable. If I missed an important part of the story, please tell me.
If not, then it’s like someone talking about how awesome The Voice is. You may not agree with them, you may think that Christina Aguilera’s cleavage is SUPER off-putting and that she’s turning more and more into Ursula from the Little Mermaid, but that person can totally still like The Voice. They have that right. If they call you a slur for not loving The Voice, then that’s not cool and it’s turned into a different kind of thing, but if they simply differ with your opinion THAT’S STILL OK.
Double moreover, are we seriously judging companies based on their cultural views? How far does this go now? If, as a Red Sox fan, I found out that PF Changs is run by a Yankee fan, do I need to boycott that restaurant BECAUSE SPOILER ALERT I WILL NOT.
HEY YOU GUYS I HAVE AN IDEA. What if we just judge a company by our interactions with them, the service they provide, and their quality? How about that? Granted, if they are drowning baby seals or something unsavory, then all bets are off BUT IF THEY JUST RESPOND TO A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE, CAN WE PLEASE NOT FREAK OUT ABOUT IT?
Back in the 90s, when the Southern Baptists called for a boycott of Disney because they had a Gay Pride day, you know what that was? IT WAS DUMB.
Do you know what that entailed? Not going to Disney World, sure. But also, not watching ESPN or any classic Disney movies that untold amounts of parents probably relied on to play for their kids so they could have 3 minutes of sane silence. What did ESPN have to do with any of that? NOTHING. It was just an ignorant overreaction to an ideology that rivaled the Southern Baptists.
(Sidenote: in reality, do you think any of those Southern Baptists would let that boycott get in the way of them watching their (and my) beloved ESS E CEE football? That’s a big negatory. A) because college football is awesome. B) Because what would not watching ESPN accomplish in the long run? Absolutely nothing.)
Disney was just exercising a right to support something they believe. Did I agree with the issue they were supporting? No. But I don’t agree with a lot of things that are done in the world.
I don’t agree with politicians working more to get themselves re-elected than actually serving the world, I don’t agree that movie popcorn doesn’t have an equal amount of butter throughout and I don’t agree that we still have to pay for 400 cable channels when I really only need like 30 of them. But I don’t boycott the nation, I don’t boycott movie popcorn and I don’t boycott TV because these are just differences in opinion. LAST TIME I CHECKED WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
I mean we’re talking about a place that just wants to serve delicious waffle fries and delicious chicken sandwiches. Does it really need to be more than that?
Yep.
This is exactly what I've been wanting to say but didn't know how to articulate. I love my gay people and I love my civil rights and I sure as heck love my Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich. Thank you, Knox, for letting me have my exquisitely fried chicken and eat it too.
Interesting post. I do think the insta-boycott nature of our society makes business owners, athletes, and so on afraid to talk about anything. You don't have to agree Cathy, but it's interesting to hear what those with power and influence actually think.
But I agree: Approach a business or entertainer based on their own merits. I was disgusted as everyone else when Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's couch. But I still get chills when in my favorite TC movies when he says, "I want the truth!" or "I feel the need for speed" or all those lines from Magnolia that I won't quote here because I'm afraid that someone might boycott me.
Nicely said. Thanks for this.
A couple of weeks ago, on this very blog, there was a post about a barking dog. I commented that, from my perspective, the folks on one side of gay-related issues are doing most of the barking. I was disagreed with, of course, but I stand by what i said.
Also about 2 weeks ago, Kraft foods came out with a promotional rainbow-colored Oreo, proclaiming their support for gay marriage. Home Depot, the Muppets, J C Penney, and Office Depot, along with many other organizations, have taken similar stances in recent months. While I have seen some comment about it from my conservative friends, it's been nowhere near the reaction we see on this Chick-Fil-A thing. Once again: I stand by what I said. The overwhelming majority of the barking regarding gay marriage is coming from one side.
So here are my thoughts (to be expanded upon on my blog tomorrow).
Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A are two separate things. Dan Cathy said something that I disagree with, but which was not hateful. He is welcome to hold his opinion and to operate his business in accordance with his beliefs within the confines of the law, WHICH HE DOES. LGBT folks are not denied service, nor are they denied employment. My disagreement with his personal stance on marriage equality should be of little concern.
However. Chick-fil-A has donated money to the Family Research Council. FRC has been listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, along with groups like the KKK. This matters to me very much. I would not willingly patronize a company that supported the KKK, nor will I support a company that supports another hate group (in this case, FRC).
Unfortunately, people got all worked up about a half-comment and forgot that there is a legitimate reason to avoid patronizing CFA.
Wait. You're saying the FRC supports the KKK OR the FRC has been designated by the SPLC as a hate group, which is like the KKK? I'm asking out of sheer ignorance on that topic.
I think we're on the same page in principle. Can't wait to read the blog tomorrow. Thanks for commenting.
FRC has been designated by the SPLC as a hate group, as per Tony Perkins's continued insistence that gay people are pedophiles. I believe that American Family Association has also been added to that list due to Bryan Fischers's requests to criminalize homosexuality (I do not believe, however, that CFA has donated money to the AFA, so please don't think that I'm making that accusation).
I definitely agree with you that getting all worked up over personal disagreements is silly. By all means, spend your money where you want, but the outrage is a little much. So yes, much of the outrage happening now IS silly, IMO. However, donating money to a hate group is a serious charge, and one that I believe deserves an honest examination. (And is the reason that I have chosen not to patronize CFA for a little over a year since I found out.)
The Southern Poverty Law Center doesn't like the FRC's stance against gay marriage and designated them a hate group because of it.
That is simply not true. There are a number of groups that oppose marriage equality and very few are designated hate groups. AFA & FRC are completely over the top in their lies & rhetoric regarding the LGBT community.
I think what we're all saying here is that hatefulness is always bad and fried chicken is always excellent. One time, I found a CFA nugget in my son's car seat. It's origin was indeterminate and I STILL ate it. And you know what? Still delicious. Fried Chicken is the great unifier in that sense, I think.
Alise, some time ago, there was a controversy about the fact that the Susan G Komen organization had pulled their financial support from Planned Parenthood, the idea being that PP is the nation's largest abortion provider, and Komen is about saving, not ending, lives.
One of the more ridiculous defenses of PP was that abortion is only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does. When i read your comment, I am reminded that I could, if I wanted, retort that Winshape (the nonprofit created by Cathy which directs funds to the organizations you mentioned) does a lot of great things, and only a tiny part of what they do goes to what you would call hate groups.
Actually Alise, I think you'll find that the donations made to various organizations that support Mr. Cathy's deeply held religious beliefs came from the family's foundation, Winshape – not Chick-fil-A corporate. Either way, as a privately held company, the Cathy family has the right to spend their profits as they believe. As far as I know, the freedom to excercise one's religion is still very much a part of the Constitution in this country. Mr. Cathy was expressing his beliefs to a religious audience (Baptist Press). Much of the vitriol that has been loosely thrown around online the past few days in response has been slanderous.
Well put, Knox. If Chick-fil-A was involved in something unsavory, then yes, we should boycott them. This could actually be an opportunity for us to discuss when boycotts are appropriate- what about companies using child laborers or sweatshops, for instance?
People and businesses should be allowed to have a difference of opinion. I'm not sure why Cathy felt the need to comment on this issue in the first place but he certainly is allowed to do so. The fact that people are paying more attention to this than more important issues is telling. Thus sayeth the girl from the Chicago area who is glad she doesn't have to endure Rahm Emmanuel perpetuating the city's corruption.
Excellent points and question. Is the boycott simply there to show opposition or to affect (effect?) meaningful change on a universally recognized bad thing? I think boycotts to simply show opposition (generally-speaking) are prone to being empty and stubborn.
Thanks for commenting!
"effect"
I am outraged by this blog post. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I'm supposed to be. Right? Isn't that our default response? Don't answer that. Just shut up. I'm outraged.
We should not be attacking CFA for this. We should be attacking them for not being open on Sunday. And for not serving nugget trays in the drive-thru.
I'll agree with the trays through the drive thru and compromise with a possible chicken sandwich drive thru available on Sundays….
Chicken sandwich ATM, that was supposed to say ATM and I don't look nearly as cleaver as I should. dang it.
People are definitely freaking out, no doubt. Some might argue that it seems extreme to freak out, unless it is your rights or the rights of your loved ones that are limited. That said Knox says "Granted, if they are drowning baby seals or something unsavory, then all bets are off" Well, the company is doing something unsavory, they are supporting organizations who actively seek to prevent all individuals from having equal civil rights. By the way, the organizations that the Chick-Fil-A President and his foundation support are also very actively pushing for a boycott of Home Dept (for it's support of gay rights). Knox suggests that same type of behavior is stupid when he writes about the Disney boycott. And of course, all of these folks involved have the right to express their views on all issues, and hopefully this dialogue helps bring about positive change.
You are correct Adam, nice post
Well said sir, well said.
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
did you read this article? It is similar in style and tone to yours.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/…
I don’t boycott Levis or Starbucks or Alise Wright when they have views or support things I find unsupportable. I didn’t quitk watching ESPN. I wouldn’t go to Disney during their Gay Pride days, just like I didn’t go to the parades in Knoxville recently. I imagine I will eat the same amount of Chik Fil A as before and will probably do the opposite of boycott them by buying a sandwich next Wednesday on Chik Fil A Appreciation Day. Go Vols, Go SEC.
Preach!
Good post, Knox. It's the dividing issue du jour.
But isn't this whole subject a little more than "I can have my opinion, you can have your opinion, now let's eat some chicken?" Is it more about socially responsible consumerism? If I knew that a business (no matter how large or small) was a huge NRA supporter/contributor then I probably wouldn't shop there.
There is a definite line of culpability here: I buy Chic-Fil-A –> Corporate Chic-Fil-A makes a profit –> Corporate Chic-Fil-A gives to lobbying groups that oppose civil unions nation wide. Aren't I a guilty accomplice in supporting "traditional" values that I don't necessarily agree with?
I agree with the tone of your post, we shouldn't get worked up. However, I do think that there is a purpose behind making a responsible decision not to purchase from a company whose values you don't support.
I think it is and it isn't.
What if the business had contributed to the NRA once? What about twice? Where is the line for you? Is it zero tolerance?
For me, I think we need to be reasonable about who we deal with as consumers. American Apparel? I'm not interested in supporting them. But that's me. I've seen plenty of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon movies even though they won't shut up about politics, but I don't watch movies where the actors, producers, etc all believe what I believe (because my movie options would be SUPER limited).
If you feel the need the work each and every company and their ethical and political affiliations into your decision about patronizing them, by all means do it, but I don't think everyone feels compelled to fit into that narrowing precedent.
Hi Knox,
Bet your'e surprised to hear from me. I agree that it is impractical to boycott every company we don't agree with but tds has a valid point. The silence of Christians because "we don't mix politics with religion" has contributed to these difficult issues in our society today. We hear from the brash talking heads on Fox News but their very brashness is what turns people off. The everyday Christian has "opted out" of even speaking up in a Christlike manner. How are your children and my grandchildren going to be able to stand for truth if we don't? It's pretty hard to stand up against the forces of evil in this world when those who know the truth aren't there to support you. Food for thought. I enjoy reading your comments. You're a talented writer.
I’ll quit eating at Chik Fil A when you pry the chicken sandwich out of my cold, dead hands.
Based on that argument, I will have to now quit wearing Levi’s and drinking Starbucks since the company values counter my own.
It made me sad when CFA made their stance known. As a private company they certainly have a right to donate their money where they see fit, just as I do.
What bothers me about the whole rhetoric is that CFA – and others – are trying to purchase our secular government and turn it into a faith-based one, and there’s no room for civil equality when religion – any religion – is the measuring stick.
You can be fundamentally against homosexuality, but denying them equality within our functionally equal-rights SECULAR government is unfair and – honestly – un-American.
My conscience isn’t stronger than my need for heavy-handing the Polynesian sauce, so I’ll continue to eat way too much CFA and vote for politicians who are dedicated to creating a free and equal government for all citizens of this country.
Whew. I’m purged of all political talk for the next four years.
For what it's worth, Knox, I think this is one the best things you've ever written. I agree, 100%. I don't care to get into the actual issue (gay marriage), as I just don't see the merit. I have no problem if others do, but from the outside looking in, I only ever see namecalling and hurt feelings, and I don't want any part of that.
I'm gonna go eat some waffle fries with Antoine Dodson.
I received an email this week from a friend about the whole Office Depot supporting the "gay agenda" issue. I'm not going to quit shopping at Office Depot just because they're offering post-it notes in rainbow colors. Doesn't anybody care that they sell a whole line of Martha Stewart office products including chalk labels? My agenda is to have a cute, neatly organized pantry.
And quit whining about CFA not being open on Sunday. Knox, if you'll eat a nugget of undetermined age from a car seat, surely you can stock up on Saturday for a Sunday reheat.
Everyone knows that Chic-fil-A is a Christian based organization, so why would anyone be surprised about their stance on gay marriage? Don't tell me that you haven't rolled up to get some chicken on Sunday and then freaked out because they weren't open! I've done that more than once, but I still eat there.
I wonder: if Chic-fil-A was a Muslim based organization, would they be getting the same flack? They are against gay marriage as well.
Now the ACLU chimes in: http://consumerist.com/2012/07/aclu-to-chicago-ju…
Hey here I am a week a later. Phew, bet you were worried. Great response to stupid responses Knox. I am so sick of being pressured during every culture war of the week as if all of a sudden civilization is about to collapse if we don't immediately fix the new life-altering problem that no one knew about 4 days earlier I love people, chicken, and Jesus (not necessarily in that order). Lots of different views out there, some of which are repulsive on every side. But it's like we don't even care HOW we defend what we believe as long as we feel we're right. And be "we" I mean folks all around the issues.